Need some advice....

Look up double yellow's threat on starting out and running loadboards.
It will open your eyes.

 

The fact that double yellow put a LOT off time and energy in being a O/O.
So working less hours and being a O/O don't go together.

 

If you don't have your own authority whoever does will be making money off of you. Sometimes it takes baby steps to get where you want to be but not having to give someone else part of your earnings is the place to be. I don't truck full time but I have my own authority. It isn't that hard to get or keep up with.

 

If you love trucking and you want more control over your schedule/type of work -- go for it (understanding that you will be exchanging a lot more time & hassle for a little more control/income).

If you're looking for an investment for your start-up capital, I'd look for businesses/investments that provide a return without requiring much additional time. IMO if a business (or investment) is not worth anything without you -- it isn't a good business/investment.

 

You seem to have the financial plan in order. That's good. The hardest route to take is getting your own trailer, and authority. There is a learning curve to that. If you are going to secure loads via the internet, you are giving up a percentage( unknown) to the broker of the gross revenue. Haggle or not, the only way to make real money is to secure your own customers and haul their freight as much as possible. Hard to drive a truck and be a salesman at the same time, although some are successful at it, but additional overhead( insurances, permitting etc) eats into profits while you are not rolling. What are you going to do if customer wants you to haul loads when you want time off? There goes the flexibility. That is where the slave angle mentioned above comes in.
Lease to a carrier causes you to give up a percentage of the gross (known). Working with their operations area can determine when they need you. If you can mesh your desires with their needs problem solved. If not, the relationship is not going to work.
I too don't want/need to work too hard, doing about 75k miles a year. after 40 years in this biz I am too lazy to haul freight. Not for everyone, but I am leased to a power only company and work with operations to cover their most important loads but take off time when it is slack or I really want to be off. PM me if you want more info.

 

Awesome advise

 

And u need to remember that in the line of logistics, your business will bear the majority of the shipping overhead costs.

 

UTSI

 

I at first thought Landstar would be the way to go. They turned me down. So, I am not their biggest fan. Then I looked at the company. 65% is a huge hit. I am not sure it is the best way to go. Your call of course but 80 - 20 seems fair to me.